The "family first, job second" defense of Chris Cuomo's actions is downright twisted

The Washington Post

Since Cuomo's indefinite suspension from CNN for trying to save his brother Andrew Cuomo's gubernatorial career and reputation amid sexual harassment allegations, some prominent media members have defended his actions, saying it's okay for a journalist to help out a family member who's in trouble. "Chris Cuomo and his CNN bosses have continually articulated this 'family first, job second' philosophy in recent months, although that logic is thoroughly misguided. In this case, I’d call it downright twisted," says Margaret Sullivan. "This was not about taking a leave of absence from your job as a teacher, let’s say, to donate a lifesaving kidney to your brother. I hope we would all do that. No, this was about a high-powered media star using his considerable juice to blunt credible accusations of sexual assault and misconduct against the governor of New York. Power helping power, in the service of disrupting the investigation of potential crimes...Even if you accept the idea that Chris Cuomo is less a journalist than an entertainer, the rules of journalistic ethics still ought to apply. He is, as much as anyone, the face of CNN. So what are these ethical rules? Pretty simple. You don’t abuse your position in journalism — whether at a weekly newspaper or a major network — for personal or familial gain. If you’re a journalist, you don’t write a letter on news-organization letterhead to the City Council asking for a special easement on your property. You don’t accept a case of wine at holiday time from a local real estate developer if you’re a business reporter. And you certainly don’t do what Chris Cuomo did: involve himself with a crisis-management effort that could influence the outcome of a criminal investigation of the highest elected official in New York. It’s wrong."